Play time: The Black Tornado's balanced attack gives quarterback Troy Fowler lots of quickpass options, and plenty of freedom to escape the pocket and earn yards with his legs. Running back Nick Janakes and wide receivers Tristen Holmes and Jared Evans provide a wealth of offensive threats all over the field.

Who's back: Nearly everybody. The Black Tornado had class of 38 juniors last season, most of whom are back to lead as seniors in 2014. Fowler, Janakes, Holmes and Evans figure to rack up many of North Medford's points, but fellow seniors Calvinn and Morginn Casaday and Zakery Kuitert will be forces to reckon with in the trenches. Also watch for senior Edmund Polataivao, a first-team all-league linebacker last season.

Who's new: Given that the Black Tornado bring back 34 seniors, including most of their top playmakers from last year, don't count on a ton new faces emerging this season. Juniors Will Spence and Jonathan Collins should have an increased role at running back, though, after getting some varsity minutes as sophomores last year.

Glass half full: North Medford outperformed even their own expectations last season ("We thought we were pretty good after fall camp, but I don’t think everybody, including the kids, really believed until the night we beat Sheldon," said head coach Mike Mitchell), and did it mostly on the backs of a junior class that returns now with a taste of success.

Glass half empty: Prior to last season, North Medford hadn't had a winning record since 2005, and the fact that they flew under the radar for much of the year probably aided them. They certainly won't sneak up on any teams this year. Fellow Southern Oregon Conference foes Sheldon and Grants Pass are also much improved, and unlike last season, North Medford will have to face them both in the last four weeks of the season.

Coach said: “We’ve got everything heading in the right direction right now. Obviously that doesn’t get you to the state final, but we’ve got a lot of things going so that we should be a pretty good football team and we should be in the mix somewhere this year."